Career trends every student should know about

Thursday

Aug 30, 2012 at 11:01 AM

ARA

Despite less than stellar job growth over the past few years, college graduates remain in demand. In fact, employers plan to hire 19.5 percent more 2011 college graduates than they did in 2010, which is up nearly 6 percent since 2009-10, according to a recent Job Outlook study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. But today's job market is not your parents' job market. Huge demographic and employment trends are changing the way America works, and would-be employees will need to remain flexible. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of the career market:?• Expect to change jobs numerous times in your career. In today's career world, job stability does not always equal job security. The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics reports that the average person born in the latter half of the baby boom has held an average of 11 jobs, and that three-fifths of those job changes occurred between the ages of 18 and 27.?• Know where the jobs are. "Our nation is experiencing huge demographic and economic changes, which are creating major shifts in the types of jobs available today," says Veronica Tarango, director of education at Everest College-West Los Angeles. "Students should prepare themselves for a changing job market." In particular, even though the U.S. economy is expected to grow by 10 percent between 2008-18, these jobs will not be evenly distributed across all industries, according to Bureau of Labor statistics. In fact, projections show a substantial decline in manufacturing positions, while service-providing industries are expected to add 14.5 million jobs to the economy in the coming years.?• Consider going back to school for additional career training. Today's job market requires that employees keep their skills current, and as a result, more and more adults are going back to school. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' occupational projections show that jobs requiring some form of post-secondary education will have greater growth through 2018 than those without.?— ARABBB Watch?Although no security system guarantees to make your home burglar-proof, a home security system may dissuade criminals from breaking in, and alarms often give you more peace of mind. The BBB is advising homeowners who are looking to secure their property to do their research when picking a home security system.?"It's important to investigate the purchase of a home security system with the same care you would any major purchase," said Steve J. Bernas of the Better Business Bureau. "There are many door-to-door salespeople selling home security systems out there that don't always have your best interest at heart."?BBB advises consumers to do the following when looking to invest in a home security system:?• Choose a professional installer.?• Contact at least three companies before selecting an installer.?• Ask about all charges up front.?• Know the ins and outs of your contract.?• Insist that the installer walk you through your system until you fully understand how it works.?For more information, visit www.bbb.org.